Portable electric lamp



April 10, 1928. 1,665,703

J. KERNES PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMP Filed Nov. 8, 1926 tilted, balancing Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JAMES KERNES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 KERNES MANUFACTURING 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMP.

Application filed November 8, 1926. Serial No. 146,927.

The invention relates to a portable electric lamp, and particularly a portable electric lamp stand, in which the lamp and its shade and the exterior shade may be simultaneously or independently moved to any desired angle in order to cause the rays of light from therefrom will project in varied directions,

the adjustment being such that the lamp may be rotated backwardly or forwardly in complete circles of 360 and held in the position desired, so that, in other words, the light rays may be directed upwardly or downwardly, or to either side of the lamp stand.

Another object of the invention is to construct the lamp stand with an attached shade holder for holding and carrying an exterior shade, which shade may be rotated and also tilted to any angle desired.

At the present time certain forms of portable electric lamps, called bridge lamps, are constructed with a floor base, a relatively long vertical standard, and a straight or curved extension, or a movable and adjustable lateral bracket, ending in the socket with its electric lamp bulb and shade. Electric wires are concealed in the base, edestal or support, and the extension or racket. The invention overcomes various objections to these forms of bridge lamps in providing a unitary combined lamp and shade holder, avoiding the unwieldiness and the unbalanced efi'ect of the bridge lamps referred to without sacrificing the desirable function of causing the light ra s from the lamp to be projected to the ta le, reading matter, or other object, as may be desired.

It is a further object of the invention to enable the lamp and shade to be rotated or tilted in the directions desired with the least difiiculty, and for this purpose ball and socket joints are used in the lamp stand.

Because of the particular construction of the.standard, and the curved cross-arm in the looped support of the standard, even when the interior and exterior shades are of the structure is secured, thus enabling t e portable lamp to be easily transported from place to place, and to maintain its equilibrium.

The invention has the above and other objects, all of which will be explained and more thoroughly understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, it being obvious that changes and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Fi ure 1 is an elevational view of the porta le electric lamp embodying the inventron.

Figure 2 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a portion of the standard, the lamp support, the curved cross-arm, and the adjustable interior and exterior shades.

Figure 3 is a side view of the lamp support and interior shade showing the crossarm of the lamp support and interior shade in full and also dotted lines, and showing the exterior shade in section, and tilted to one slde.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the ball and socket joint employed in connection with the exterior shade, and,

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the cross-arm, lamp support and intervening ball and socket joint.

In the portable electric lamp structureshown in the drawings the vertical standard 10, which may be of wood, metal or any other suitable material, is provided with the base 11, which is sufliciently large and broad to give ample support and to cause the lamp structure to remain in a steady position. The standard and the base are bored and apertured for the admission of electric light wires.

It Will be understood that the invention is not limited to a stand lamp having a relatively long upright standard and a base, but, with suitablechanges, it may be employed as a table or desk lamp, and could also be made in other forms.

Secured in the top of the upright standi as by havin a hollow bushin or extension screw-three ed into the top1 o the standard 10,. The joint between t e lamp support 12 and the standard 10 is covered by the apertured junction portion 13. This junction portion may be of any suitable size or shape, and may be plain or ornamental, as desired.

A cross-arm 14, preferably made of two sections of curved metallic tubing, is disposed preferably centrally between the two sides of the lamp support 12. The curved tubular cross-arm 14 is rotatably and removably secured to the lamp support 12 by the two ball and socket joints. Each of the ball and socket joints comprises the hollow apertured ball member 15, secured in the ends of the cross-arm tube 14, the exteriorly threaded socket member 16, permanently secured to the inner respective side of the lamp support 12, and the interiorly threaded thimble 17 which connects the ball with the socket 16. The ball and socket joints are at the outer ends of the cross-arm 14.

shade 22 in place in the metallic dished holder 19. An electric bulb or lamp socket 23 is secured to the metallic base 20 of the dishedm'ember 19 in the interior thereof in an approved manner, as by soldering or welding. The electric light bulb or lamp 24 is screwed into place in the socket 23. The lam chain 25 extends from the lamp socket 23 t rough the shade'holder 19 and hangs down on the exterior of the shade holder 19, where it may be readily used to operate the electric light bulb 24.

While it is preferred to use a single socket and a single electric li ht bulb in the interior of the metallic soc et and shade holder 19 so that in conjunction with the interior lamp shade 22 direct light rays may be secured without the cross beams of light if more than one lamp bulb should be used,

yet it will be obvious that, if desired, a plu-v rality of electric light bulbs ma be used withln the holder 19, and it wil also be obvious that interior light shades of different shapes or'oontours may be used.

Electric'wires 26 and 27 extend through the base 11 and the upright standard 10 through the junction portion 13, the lower portion of either arm of the lamp support 12, through the respective ball and socket joint, through the respective branch of the curved cross-arm 14 into the holder 19, and are connected to the lamp" socket 23 in the ordinary manner. The wires 26 and 27 are entirely concealed Within the structure.

The wires 26 and 27 are preferably placed in the standard, lamp and shade support, cross-arm and shade holder loosely enough so that they may be twisted and untwisted backwardly and forwardly, as desired, when the cross-arm 14, the shade holder 19 with the interior shade 22 and the socket and lamp 23 and 24 respectivel are rotated by means of the ball and socket joints in the cross-arm. It will thus be readily seen that the cross-arm 14 carr ing the shade holder, lamp and interior s ade may be rotated backwardly and forwardly in complete circles of 360, and may be secured at any point in the cycle of rotation by means of the friction fit between the members of the ball and socket joints in the cross-arm.

In the looped lamp support the ball and socket with the connecting thimble must, in each case, be of suflicient strength to withstand the strains placed upon them when the cross-arm, the combined shade and socket holder, and the interior shade are shifted out of vertical alignment. The strain is reduced to some extent because of the balancing of the shade holder and shade, secured because of the curve in the crossarm and the consequent positioning of the shade holder and the interior shade. whole lamp stand is balanced because of the balancing of the shade holder and shade in the curved cross-arm when the shade holder and shade have been turned or shifted out of vertical alignment.

The dotted line 28 shown in Figure 3 is to indicate that the lamp bulb and shade 24 and 22 respectively make a complete revolution of 360 in either direction when the cross-arm 14 is rotated in the ball and socket joints.

It will also be understood, of course, that the electric light wires 26 and 27 may be extended through either arm of the lamp support 12 and the corresponding branch of the cross-arm 14.

The elliptical or looped lam support 12 may be constructed with other orms of support, such as rectangular, triangular or otherwise, but it must be adapted to be constructed with a cross-arm which extends from one side to the other of the lamp suport.

The looped lamp support 12 is provided at its top with the lamp shade supporting post 29, to which the exterior lamp shade 30 is secured. The lamp shade 30, the lower edge of which is preferably hung below the lower end of the interior lamp shade 22, is secured by a plurality of cross braces 31 to the lamp shade post 29, which is suitably secured in the top of the lamp support 12.

The

The plurality of cross braces 31 are secured at their outer ends to the shade 30 in any well known manner. They are secured at their inner ends to a ring 32, which may rotate about the lamp shade post 29.

The exterior shade post 29 includes a ball and socket joint comprising the ball member 33, the socket member 34, and the connector thimble 35 with the knurling 36. A screw-threaded thimble 37 is shown in Figure 4, which may be used for the purpose of securing the lamp shade post 29 in the top of the lamp support 12. V

The lamp shade 30 may be rotated in the ball and socket joint in the lamp shade post 29, and, because of the friction fit between the members of the ball and socket joint in the post 29, the shade may also be tilted to any position required. It will be apparcut that not only may the interior shade 22 and the light bulb and socket be set at any position desired, but, simultaneously, the shade 30 may be tilted and set at any position desired, so that the rays of light from the lamp 24 may be made to pro ect to any place desired. It will also be seen that there may be cooperative relationship between the setting of the interior and exterior shades to secure a proper projection of the light rays from the lamp, although they operate separately.

The interior of the shade holder 19 may be provided with reflecting material so that the rays of light emanating from the lamp bulb 24 may be reflected thereby, and it will also be apparent that the top of the lamp shade post 29 may be of any ornamental and artistic design.

Having thus described the .invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a portable electric lamp. the combination of a hollow standard, a stationary tubular looped lamp support, a tubular curved cross-arm extending across said looped lamp support, said cross-arm having a centrally disposed dished member within which is secured a lamp socket, said cross-arm having a ball and socket joint near each of its ends between said centrally disposed dished member and the respective sides of the tubular loop, said socket having an exterior thread, a thimble with an interior thread, said thim ble being screw-threaded on said socket whereby said cross-arm and centrally disposed dished member may be set at any position within 360 of rotation of said cross arm, dished member, and lamp socket within said loop, said hollow standard, tubular loop, tubularcurved cross-arm and centrally disposed dished member furnishin a continuous passage for wiring to said lamp socket.

2. In a portable electriclamp the combination of a hollow standard, a tubular looped lam support, a tubular curved crossarm exten ing across said looped lamp support, said cross-arm having a centrally disposed dished member within which is secured a lamp socket, said cross-arm having a ball and socket joint near each of its ends between said centrally disposed dished member and the respective sides of the tubular loop, said socket havin an exterior thread, a thimble with an interior thread, said thimble being screw-threaded on said socket whereby said cross-arm and centrally disposed dished member may be set at any position. within 360 of rotation of said crossarm, dished member, and lamp socket within said loop, said hollow standard, tubular loop, tubular curved cross-arm and centrally disposed dished member t'urnishing a continuous passage for wiring to said lamp socket, a lamp bulb fitted in said socket, an interior lamp shade fitted within said dished mem ber, a post secured to the top of said looped member, said post comprising a ball and socket joint, and a holder for an exterior lamp shade, said ball and socket joint in said post ermitting the tilting of the exterior sha e held by said shade holder.

3. In a portable electric lamp the combination of a hollow standard, a tubular looped lamp support, a tubular curved cross-arm extending across said looped lamp support, said cross-arm having a centrally disposed dished member within which is secured a lamp socket, said cross-arm having a ball and socket joint near each of its ends between said centrally disposed dished memher and the respective sides of the tubular loop, said socket having an exterior thread, a thimble with an interior thread, said thimble being screw-threaded on said socket whereby said cross-arm and centrally disposed dished member may be tilted or set at any position within 360 of rotation of said cross-arm, dished member, and lamp socket within said loop, said hollow standard, tubular loop, tubular curved cross-arm and centrally disposed dished member furnishing a continuous passage for wiring to said lamp socket, a lamp bulb fitted in said socket, an interior lamp shade fitted within said dished member, a ost secured to the top of said looped mem er, said post comprising a ball and socket joint, and a holder for an exterior lamp shade, said ball and socket joint in said post permitting the tilting of the exterior shade held by said shade ho der simultaneously with the tilting or setting in position of said cross-arm, dished member and lam socket, said holder for said exterior sha e being rotatable on said post.

4. In a portable electric lamp the combination of a standard terminating in a loop, a cross-arm extending across said loop, said cross-arm being curved and having a dished and socket in the curved portion of said cross-arm whereby balance of the portable electric lamp is secured when said cross-arm, dished member and interior shade are out of vertical alignment with said standard and said loop, said cross-arm, dished member and lamp socket being rotatable within said loop, a post secured to the top of said looped member, said post com rising'a ball and socket joint, and a hol er for an exterior lamp shade, said ball and socket joint in said post permitting the tilting of the exterior shade held by said shade holder.

5. In a portable electric lamp, the combination of a hollow standard, a stationary, tu-

bular, looped lamp support, a tubular curved cross-arm extending across said looped lamp support, said cross-arm having a centrally dished member, said dished member disposed dished member within which is adcured a lamp socket, said dished member being adapted to carry a shade, said cross-arm having a ball and socket joint near each of its. ends between said centrally di osed dished member and the respective si es of the tubular loop whereb said cross-arm and centrally disposed dis ied member may be set at any posit-ion within 360 of rotation of said cross-arm, and whereby balance of the portable electric lamp is secured when said cross-arm, dished member and shade are out of vertical alignment with said loop, said hollow standard, tubular loop, tubular curved cross-arm and dished member furnishing a continuous passage for wiring to said lamp socket.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of November, A. D., 1926.

JAMES KERNES. 

